The Doc Martin actor praised Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant in Cornwall and said he knew the menu very well
Christopher Sharp Trendswatch Reporter
08:00, 28 Nov 2025
Martin Clunes named his favourite restaurant in the world – and it’s in Cornwall(Image: ITV)
Actor Martin Clunes once declared that his favourite restaurant in Cornwall wasn’t merely his top choice in the county but his preferred dining spot across the globe.
The performer, who celebrates his 64th birthday today (Friday, November 26), singled out one legendary establishment whilst discussing his passion for the county.
The actor, famous for his performances in Doc Martin and Men Behaving Badly, elaborated on his preferred meals at this special celebrity-owned location. He confessed that he was thoroughly familiar with the menu.
During a 2017 interview with the Independent, Martin revealed it was Rick Stein’s Padstow establishment that he considered amongst his most cherished dining destinations, reports Cornwall Live.
He explained: “My favourite restaurant in the entire world, and I’ve been to a lot of restaurants, is Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant in Padstow. I love the room, I love the paintings, I love getting the boat across from Rock, I love everything about it.
“This year I did my nut over the hot shellfish. It’s a starter, but it’s enormous – it comes on a griddle, and they just sear mussels, oysters, clams and razor clams, all my favourite stuff. I know the menu very well.”
Martin isn’t the sole celebrity to speak about the influence of the Padstow establishment on them, with Rick himself also sharing his perspective on its heritage.
Padstow marked the beginning of Rick’s gastronomic empire and served as the foundation from which he established his standing as one of Britain’s finest chefs.
Rick Stein is synonymous with Padstow(Image: Getty)
Speaking to the London Standard, Rick was candid in his response to criticism regarding the restaurant and tourism’s impact on the area, asserting that locals weren’t concerned about it.
He said: “If people don’t want to come to Padstow, they won’t. It’s just somewhere that’s nice. People going on about ‘Padstein’ and that kind of thing, I’m past being pissed off about it, and I don’t think a lot of people in Padstow are bothered about all that anymore.
“I understand that property prices in somewhere like Padstow are too high for the locals, but without tourism, what would they do anyway? It’s a Catch-22 situation. There’s no answer to it, so you just do your best.”
Despite his defence against detractors, Rick has consistently voiced how much he adores the region, telling the Telegraph that he couldn’t envisage himself retiring anytime soon.
He explained: “I love getting people enthusiastic about eating. If I gave up the restaurant business tomorrow, perhaps Stein’s 70s disco could be revived! Truthfully, though, I can’t see myself retiring.
“I’m lucky enough to have two properties, one in London and a Cornish fisherman’s cottage in Padstow-my spiritual home, where most of my businesses are.”
Martin Clunes(Image: ITV)
Meanwhile, whilst Rick is championing Padstow, Martin has recently revealed his plans to revive the Buckham Fair to raise funds for Dorset County Hospital’s new emergency department alongside his wife Philippa Braithwaite, reports the BBC.
In a statement, Philippa said: “We recently went to a fundraising evening for the DCH Emergency Department Appeal.
“We thought it would be good to reboot the fair as a one-off, specifically to raise money for the cause.
“We have all had to visit DCH over the last few years and it is a wonderful hospital which we are lucky to have.”
